Australia and the European Union Sanction Several Officials and Entities of the Islamic Republic

On Tuesday, May 15, Australia and the European Union imposed targeted sanctions against several individuals and entities of the Islamic Republic due to destabilizing actions in the Middle East and its support for Russia in the war against Ukraine. The Australian government announced that it has imposed targeted sanctions against five individuals and three other entities in response to the destabilizing behavior of the Islamic Republic in the Middle East. Simultaneously, the European Union Council expanded its restrictive measures against the Iranian government, considering the military support of the Islamic Republic for Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine. Among the sanctioned officials by Australia are Mohammad Reza Ashtiani, the Minister of Defense of the Islamic Republic, and Ismail Qaani, the commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The Australian government stated that the Revolutionary Guard is a "malignant actor" that has long posed a threat to international security and the people of Iran. The sanctioned entities include the naval forces of the Revolutionary Guard, which seized a civilian ship linked to Israel under the Portuguese flag in international waters. Australia has called for the immediate release of the ship and its crew. So far, the Australian government has sanctioned 90 individuals and 100 entities related to the Islamic Republic. The Australian government’s statement indicated that it will continue to exert strategic pressure on the officials of the Islamic Republic. At the same time, the European Union Council also expanded its restrictive measures against the Iranian government, considering the military support of the Islamic Republic for Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine, which also includes Iran's missile program. These restrictions currently prohibit the export of components used in the manufacture and production of drones from the EU to Iran and include travel restrictions and asset freezes for several individuals responsible, supportive, or involved in this matter. The European Union Council has decided to target individuals and entities supplying, selling, or transferring missiles and drones from the Islamic Republic to Russia or militia groups to undermine peace and security in the Middle East and the Red Sea, which violates UN Security Council Resolution 2216. On April 15 of this year, the European Union strongly condemned the drone and missile attacks of the Islamic Republic against Israel, deeming them "unprecedented" and a threat to regional security. The United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada coordinated to impose sanctions against the Islamic Republic. Canada imposed new sanctions against the military entities and officials of the Islamic Republic. The United States imposed new sanctions related to the Islamic Republic's drone assistance to Russia. The United States sanctioned two companies and four individuals in relation to the cyber operations of the Islamic Republic. The United Kingdom, in coordination with the United States, imposed new sanctions against the Islamic Republic. New sanctions against the Islamic Republic's drone program; Biden: The United States is committed to Israel's security. A letter from 134 members of the British Parliament to Rishi Sunak: The Revolutionary Guard should be recognized as a terrorist organization.